Trench mortar and the like



Jan, 27, H. NEWTON TRENCH MORTAR AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 17, 1917 3 Sheets-Sheet l I Henry/Yam n m I 2 g ATTORNEY Jan. 27, 192 5.

H. NEWTON TRENCH MORTAR AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 17, 1917 a Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VE N m R Hem-g New/0n ATTORNEY flan 27, 1925.

H. NEWTON TRENCH MORTAR AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 17, 1917 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Hemy New Patented Jan. 27, 1925.

umrsn srarss e HENRY NEWTON, OF DERBY, ENGLAND.

TRENCH MORTAR AND. THE LIKE.

Application filed November 17, 1917. Serial No. 202,475.

(GRANTED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF rm: ACT OF MARCH 8, 1921, 41 STAT. L, 1318.)

To all whom it my concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY NEWTON, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, and residing at Market Place, Derby, in the county of Derby, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trench Mortars and the like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to trench mortars and the like.

In the conditions of trench warfare weapons of this class have ordinarily had to be carried by men to their positions of use, these being inaccessible to vehicular transport. The limitations of weight thus prescribed make it necessary to construct the weapon as low premure gun. Further, in service conditions a mortar of large bore and relatively long range not only has greater ofl'ensive power but is itself much less vulnerables than a short range weapon for which the possible locations are narrowly re-' stricted. Hitherto, however, large bore low pressure weapons have not given the ranges desirable by reason of the fact that the comparatively low pressures and temperatures to which such weapons are restricted have made satisfactory ignition and combustion of the propelling charge impossible of attainment. It is important that the mortar should be simple and cheap to construct so that adequate supplies may be available;

' and it must be simple to use so that the personnel that may be called upon to use it do not need long training.

The object of the invention is a large bore trench mortar of long and variable range in which complete combustion of the charge is attained by the creation of a proper temperature and pressure environment. More specifically the invention consists in a trench mortar or like low pressure gun in which the propellant charge is burnt in a combustion chamber from which the gases are emitted through ports or apertures which may or may not be adjustable for the purpose of varying the area of escape for the gases.

A further object of the invention is a large bore trench mortar that can readily be transported in a few large parts, and assembled without the aid of any loose small parts liable to be lost. The invention includes a new means of supporting the barrel of a mortar, consisting of tensional members drawing the rounded end of the mortar down upon a rounded seat.

Yet another object of the invention is a trench mortar which has the characteristics of a weapon of precision, inasmuch as means are provided for varying the elevation and deflection of the barrel by minute steps between wide limits and to a measured extent, so that a particular setting of the mortar by which an objective has once been reached can be reestablished with certainty When required. In this aspect an embodiment of the invention includes the combination of adjustable tensional members connecting the barrel of the mortar to the bed upon which its end is supported, with a clinometer upon the barrel of the mortar adapted to indicate both elevation and deflection.

The invention further comprises other details and arrangements hereinafter more particularly referred to.

The accompanying drawings illustrate several modes of carrying out the invention:

Figure 1 is a plan of one form of mortar in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a side sectional elevation.

Figure 3 is afront elevation, partly in section;

Figures 4 and 5 are fragmentary views illustrating modifications. I

Fig. 6 1s a detail view showing the clinometer. In this view the gun barrel is diagramatically shown.

Fig. 7 is a detail side view of the clinometer shlowmg the same attached to the gun barre.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of a modified form of combustion chamber showing a piston for regulating the chamber outlets.

Fig. 9 is similar view of another modification of the combustion chamber in which a cone is provided within the combustion chamber for preventing clogging of the chamber ports by the propellant.

Fig. 10 is a detail sectional view of a projectile carrying means for igniting the propellant.

F1 11 is a. side view of a portion of a modi%ed form of projectile.

Fig. 12 is a detail view partly in section of a shell" carrying a combustion chamber to g: used in lieu of the gun combustion chamr. Fig.- 13 is a detail sectional view of a modified form of gun and projectile and showing the projectile carrying the propellant charge and the gun provided with a striker for'engaging the ignition cap of the projectile. I

k In carrying my invention into effect in one convenient manner as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, I form the mortar from a plain tube a, preferably with a hemispherical end b, whereby the forces may be more evenly distributed as compared with those cases where knuckle, joints and pins are employed, so that by this means even aluminium bases such asc, or very light steel bases, may be readily employed, this resulting in. aconsiderable saving of weight. Guy or stretch-' ing screws d with links or hooked ends 0 are used to secure adj ustment as to elevation and direction, while a clinometer a, shown in FiguresG-and 7 having a universal spirit level bubble or the like which is adjustable .in two planes at right angles provides a ready means for varying the range or direction with certainty, and I may also provide a stud or pin f the axis of which contains oris in alignment with the centre of the hemispherical end portion and which is adapted to move in-a guide g onthe mortar bed It in order to ensure uniform movement of the mortar, a suitable lock or projection g being provided upon the guide 9 for the purpose of limiting the relative movement between the pin and the guide.

' The combustion chamber 11 for the propellant charge k may be arranged within the i bore of the mortar, as shown, or outside the same, and such combustion chamber may be provided'with a series of ports or outlets Z which may be adjustable or notes to size by means of a iston i as shown in Fig. 8 or other suitablb member or members for the purpose of varying the area of escape for the gases, the effect of such an arrangement bein that the pressure and temperature within the combustion chamber will exceed .the normal temperature and pressure for such low pressure guns as those under consideration, and may be controlled so that a uniform ignition and combustion of the propellant may be obtained and the disadvantages hereinbefore noted in connection with low pressure guns as hitherto constructed completely obviated.

An ordinary rifle mechanism or other primaryignition may be arranged as shown at m for the purpose of igniting the charge, and when bombs of the tail t pe are employed a baflie plate n may be tted to prevent the gtreams of gas from impinging upon the tail and producing distortion.

In place of the above arrangement the combustion chamber may be provided with an outlet aperture or mouth 0 (Figure 4) in which case I arranged that the propellant shall be ignited at the mouth by means of a suitably placed nozzle p through which the lighting agent may be conducted.

Priming charges to set up initial pressures and temperatures may be employed in connection with the propellant, and where the combustion chamber is provided with can be obtained by carrying the lighting charge 11 on the projectile as shown in Fig.- 10 in such a manner that it may be ignited by the blow which obtains when the shell comes to rest, firing the lighting cap and igniting the propellant at its upper extremity, or as shown in Fig. 11, I may arrange a simple trigger action '5 to effect the firing when the shell has reached a predetermined position in the bore of the gun.

In place of inserting the propellant into a combustion chamber in the mortar, the propellant maly be carried in a receptacle 2' (as shown in 'ig. 12) fixed to or formed with the shell base with lighting cap attached, the receptacle being arranged in a manner similar to that above described so that a re stricted area for the escape of the gases will be provided, with the result that increased temperature and pressure are obtained.

In the example shown in Figure 5, the charge carried on the base of the bomb g consists of a primary charger, such as ballistite or other suitable material, within the cartridge container 8 and surrounded by a secondary charge 25, the latter being, if desired, in two or more parts so that it may -be,varied as may be required for variation in range, and being of any suitable form, and instead of the secondary charge being carried by the shell it may be located inthe base chamber of..the gun.

Where the bomb carries its own propellant charge the mortar is provided with a striker stud i (as shown in Fig. 13) fitted at the bottom of the barrel, and such stud may be telescopic or made to pass through an aperture in the base of the gun or be otherwise adjustable in such a manner as to adjust the working stroke of the shell and thus regulate the range. Again, as shown in Fig;11, the shell may carry a trip mechanism to operate the igniting cartridges at a predetermined point in their passage down the bore.

Instead of providing for a fixed weight of propellant and varying areas for escape of the gases, I may. if desired, maintain the ports or areas of escape constant and vary the weights of the propellant charges employed. or I may vary both the weight of the propellant and the areas of escape.

In a further modification the charge for the mortar may comprise a slow burning portion, such as cordite wrapped round with a quick burning charge such as gun-cotton gum.

In any modification of the invention the mortar may be provided with the clinometer a adjustably mounted upon the barrel so that in conjunction with a scale u (Figure 3) the clinometer may be adjusted to any degree right or left for shooting right or left.

The platform for the mortar or the like may be of any suitable form, but I prefer.

to construct the same of timbers united and held together by interlocking portions and by screws or other fastening devices, or so arranged otherwise that a strong platform is secured which will be easily dismountable and readily transportable since it-does not comprise any heavy members in its construction. It is to be understood that the foregoing details are given by way of example only of several methods of carrying the invention into effect, as it will be clear that I may vary the construction and arrangement of mortar or howitzer or other high pressure gun to which the invention is to be applied, as also the size and location of the combustion chamber, and the manner of providing for the ignition of the propellant, as may be fbund most satisfactory in practice, depending upon any parcommunicating with said hollow barrel and through which the whole of the propellant gases pass and manually operated regulatable means for artificially raising the temperature and pressure of combustion above the normal substantially as descirbed.

2. A trench mortar or other low pressure gun as claimed in: claim 1 in which said manually operated regulatable means comprises a device for controlling the size of said port or ports connecting the combustion chamber with the hollow barrel, substantially as described.

3. A trench mortar or other low pressure gun as claimed in claim'l, in which said manually operated regulatable means comprises a manually operated regulatable piston-like member provided for controlling the s'ze of the port or ports connecting the combustion chamber with the hollow barrel.

4. In a trench mortar or other low pressure gun the combination of a barrel having sure gun the combination of a barrel having a part spherical end, a bed, a base thereon having apart spherical socket receiving and fitting said endand having its axis inclined forward, an adjustable tie in the vertical plane containing said axis connecting said barrel with a point on said bed in rear of said socket, and other adjustable ties connecting said barrel with points on said bed to right and 'left of said socket respectively.

7. In a trench mortar or other low pressure gun the combination of a barrel having a part spherical end, a base having a part spherical socket receiving and fitting said end, adjustable guys. tensioned between points on said barrel and oints around said socket, and means for lndicating the elevation and deflection of said barrel.

8. In a trench mortar or other low pressure gun the combination of a barrel having a part spherical end, a base havin a part spherical socket receiving and fitting said end, adjustable guys tensioned between points on said barrel and points around said socket, and a clinometer attached to said barrel and adjustable in two directions at right angles.

9. In a trench mortar or other low pressure gun, the combination of a barrel having a part spherical end, a bed carrying a part spherical socket to receive and fit said end.

and guys permanently attached to one of said members and adapted to be attached to the other.

10. In a trench mortar or other low pres sure gun, the combination of a barrel having a a part spherical end. a base having a part spherical socket receiving and fitting said end, a pin upon said end projecting radially from said end, a guide upon said base confining said pin to movement in a plane and adjustable tensi onal means supportin said barrel and drawing its end into said socket. j

11. In a trench mortar or other low ressure gun the combination of a barrel aving a part spherical end, a bed, a base hav ing a part spherical socket receiving and justable ties connecting pointson said, bed to right and left of 10 and the projectile.

the vertical plane containing said axis con;-

necting said barrel with a point on said bed .in rear of said socket, and other ad'- said barrel with said socket respectively.

12. In a trench mortar or other low pressure gun comprising in combination a hollow barrel having a hemis herical lower end, a hemispherical base wit in which said pend is free to work, a vertical guide upon spherical end of the barrel,

said hemispherical base, a pin in said hemithe axis 01' which passes through the centre of said hemispherical end and means for limitin the relative movement between said pin an said guide. v

13. A trench mortar or other low pressure gun as claimed in claim 12 having a clinometer arranged on the barrel-of the mortar and combined with means for adjusting for gun com rising a base right and left shooting, substantially as described. V,

14. A trench mortar or otherlow pressure gun having a combustion chamber in which the propelling charge is burnt, said chamber being provided with ports communicating between said combustion space and the chamber containing the projectile, manually regulated means for controlling the size of said ports, and afbaflie between said ports a [15. A trench mortar or provided with a su port aving a semisp erical cavity, a ho low barrel provided with a hollow semispherical lower end which is seated in said cavity, tie members arranged between the upper portion of the gun barrel and said base for use in seating the barrel, a combustion chamber arranged within the semispherical space of the barrel, and means for artificially raising the temperatures and pressure of the combustion above the normal. In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

' HENRY NEWTON.-

other low pressure 

